I had to write an essay analyzing a short story. I chose The Birds by Daphne du Maurier and this is what I got:
Daphne du Maurier’s short story The Birds is a story of an old war veteran, his family, and how they battle fierce birds. It starts out on the third of December on the Cornish coast of England. The weather has changed overnight from a mild autumn to a cold, harsh winter. Nat Hocken, who works at a farm to support his family, notices a lot of birds that appear more restless than usual. Nobody else believes Nat’s theories about what the birds might be up to until they start attacking. Soon, it is too dangerous to be outside as the birds have already killed all the people around Nat and his family. He boards up his house and eventually they are safe.
The Birds was written by du Maurier to tell us about how humans think that they are the most intelligent race in the world but by the end of the story we realize just how small and useless we actually are against nature. Though du Maurier did show how the birds almost wiped out humans, I think her plot was not believable and realistic, thus making the story not interesting to read.
Even though in the end, we see that Nat is safely in his home, the external conflict is not fully resolved; it just ends with him sitting, smoking his last cigarette. I did not like this because it doesn’t tell us the outcome of the birds’ attack: Do they eventually leave or take over the world?
Du Maurier uses small details that visually describe the birds and make the images vivid in our minds. ‘Little brains…stabbing beaks…piercing eyes…’ but she doesn’t exactly explain where they came from, and why.
In conclusion, The Birds was a lengthy short story about how humans tried to survive fierce bird attacks that were highly unrealistic. The readers can’t connect with the characters at all since no one shares these experiences, and since it’s not that easy to understand, I wouldn’t recommend it to most children.
Is this OK?
Thanks
-MC
There is a lot of repetition in this. Example:You said that du Maurier wrote the story three times.
Next...The story is about man's eternal conflict with nature. Writers have been taking on this issue for centuries because man has been trying to resolve that issue.Yes, man has an ego problem and that is part of the "problem". I don't think that you thought through what the author was trying to say. I am not a du Maurier enthusiast, but she is a valid author. You need to organize your throughts before you sit down to write.
I agree, MC. The story was about the conflict with nature that man often takes for granted. The repetition is a bit tiring. I have always found in an analysis repetition to be a bit insulting to the reader. I get the impression you are trying to meet some artificial word length.
Work on the repetition, and your thoughts about how the author presented the conflict with nature. Who won?
OK, I'll work on it. Also, I didn't realize i was repeating..
Thanks
-MC
Overall, your analysis of "The Birds" by Daphne du Maurier provides a good summary of the plot and touches on some key themes. However, there are a few areas where you could improve your essay.
First, your thesis statement about humans being small and useless against nature could be strengthened. Instead of just stating it as a fact, you could explain why the story conveys this message. For example, you could talk about how the birds' attacks are relentless and overwhelming, symbolizing the power and unpredictability of nature.
In your discussion of the plot, you mention that you find it unbelievable and unrealistic. It would be helpful to provide specific examples or explanations for why you feel this way. This will make your argument more persuasive and give your reader a clearer understanding of your perspective.
Additionally, regarding the ending, it's important to note that the story intentionally leaves the outcome of the bird attack unresolved. This open ending is meant to create a sense of unease and leave the reader to contemplate the larger implications of the story. Instead of stating that you did not like the ending, you could explore the impact of this narrative choice on the reader's experience and interpretation.
Lastly, your final sentences could benefit from elaboration. Instead of simply saying that the readers can't connect with the characters and that the story is hard to understand, you could explain why this is the case. Is it because the characters lack depth or development? Is the story lacking in clarity or coherence?
Overall, your essay provides a good foundation, but by expanding on your points and providing more supporting evidence and analysis, you can further strengthen your analysis of "The Birds" and make your essay more impactful.